The intersection of robotics and artificial intelligence continues to attract significant attention from investors and Big Tech alike, with the latest indicator being Dexterity, a startup specializing in industrial robots with "human-like" finesse, raising $95 million at a post-money valuation of $1.65 billion, according to Bloomberg.

This investment, which includes backing from Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sumitomo Corp., highlights the growing demand for machinery powered by AI and comes amid a wave of excitement from companies like Meta and Apple, which are reportedly exploring investments into AI-powered humanoid robots. This trend is further reinforced by startups like humanoid robot makers Figure AI and Apptronik, which have recently secured enormous funding rounds to develop robots for a variety of tasks.

Dexterity's robots are designed to perform repetitive and sometimes dangerous tasks in warehouses and factories, such as loading boxes and sorting parcels, for customers that include FedEx and UPS. Founder and CEO Samir Menon tells Bloomberg that the robots use specialized AI models, each focused on a specific task, coordinated by a central system. This approach enables the robots to mimic human-like dexterity, making them more efficient and effective in industrial settings.

The outfit has now raised nearly $300 million altogether, demonstrating the confidence of investors in its AI-powered industrial robotics technology. This funding will likely be used to further develop and expand its product offerings, as well as to scale its operations to meet growing demand from customers.

The growing interest in AI-powered industrial robots is driven by the need for increased efficiency, productivity, and safety in warehouses and factories. As the global supply chain continues to evolve, companies are looking for innovative solutions to stay competitive, and AI-powered robots are seen as a key component of this strategy. With Dexterity's latest funding round, it is clear that investors are betting big on the potential of AI to transform the industrial robotics landscape.

As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how companies like Dexterity, Figure AI, and Apptronik shape the future of industrial robotics. With the backing of investors and the excitement of Big Tech, it is likely that we will see significant advancements in AI-powered robots in the coming years, leading to increased adoption and transformation across various industries.